Receive an email from the Building and Safety Standards Branch within 10 days confirming receipt of your form
Final notification
Local governments are asked to submit the final notification once they have established or ratified a bylaw, policy or program that references the BC Energy Step Code.
Email your completed form to the Building and Safety Standards Branch with the subject: Final Notification on the BC Energy Step Code + Name of Jurisdiction
Receive an email from the Building and Safety Standards Branch within 10 days confirming receipt of your form
For a full list of municipalities who are either consulting or have referenced the BC Energy Step Code, please visit the Implementation Updates page.
Notification questions and answers
For the next few years, the Energy Step Code Council will be closely following local government interest in the BC Energy Step Code to support those affected. Our goal is to inform industry capacity-building efforts, and identify potential training shortfalls and any other issues that may arise.
We will share the information submitted here with the Energy Step Code Council, including industry representatives, to help ensure a smooth roll-out. Some information will also be shared publicly.
A local-government staff member such as a community energy manager, sustainability manager, community planner, or building official would typically complete the notification forms.
It is important to provide industry and local government staff (planning department and Building Officials) with sufficient time to prepare for change. The following timelines are advised to provide sufficient notice for new requirements, from the time you notify the ESCC of your intent, to the time you launch and enforce the BC Energy Step Code in your community:
If a local government has already submitted an initial notification form, but chooses to increase its level of ambition and reference a Higher Step instead of a Lower Step, the waiting period will begin anew.
A similar “clock reset” will also apply if a local government chooses to add additional locations where the BC Energy Step Code will apply.
Local governments should complete and submit the initial notification form when they start their public consultation about the BC Energy Step Code. They should submit the final notification when they reference the BC Energy Step Code in policy. Please review the local government Best Practices Guide for more details.
After you submit the initial form, you will receive a confirmation email. The email serves as your receipt and can be used to calculate the three, six, or 12-month waiting period before you can reference the standard in policy.
A representative of the Province’s Building Safety and Standards branch will reach out if more information is needed. We also ask that you please notify us when your government actually references the BC Energy Step Code, as explained in the local government Best Practices Guide.
For questions, please email the Buildings and Safety Standards Branch at the Province of British Columbia. This email account is actively monitored and a representative will be back in touch as soon as possible.
